Friday, December 28, 2007

"If I had just one wishOnly one demandI hope he's not like meI hope he understandsThat he can take this lifeAnd hold it by the handAnd he can greet the worldWith arms wide open."-- CreedDear Kids, last year just before New Year (2007) and right after it, we had to put an IV (swero) on Lola Letty, Sabine and Sadie to prevent dehydration from setting in because they had Acute Gastroenteritis.

This year, just before New Year (2008) and right after it, Sage got sick, so did Sadie. Gave us both quite a scare. the symptoms were benign but due to your parents' "OCness" when it comes to you guys, we did have sleepless nights.

Dear Kids, the future can only be predicted when it is already in the past. Having said those Sagely words (yeah, right) I now boldly announce my top 5 fearless forecasts/predictions for the year 2007...

1. There will be a lot of gore in the nobel prize awards.2. Raul Gonzales, FG will prove that the old adage about tenacious grass is true.3. Tony Blair will embrace the I.R.A. as a brother.4. You will have a blast when you go to a SALE in Glorietta.5. Song of the year: "Tatsulok"

Saturday, December 22, 2007

"The blues is just a song about

the one who left,

or the one you couldn't have,

or both" --Anonymous

Dec. 22, 2007, 1:08 A.M. EST (06:08 UT) is this year's winter solstice. It's the time of the year when the night is longest and the day is shortest. Around this time of the year, people, especially from temperate countries, start to complain of depression. Which is kind of ironic since it's the holidays. To put it simply, the supposed happiest time of the year is just around the corner. The more people realize this, the more depressed they become about being depressed. They couldn't help but feel left out when everybody else only has happy thoughts.

Researchers blame the lack of sunlight that supposedly wreaks havoc on our body's chemistry which make us vulnerable to depression. they have a cheesy name for this:

SAD syndrome (Seasonal Affective Disorder)...Some just call it the Blues.

I started to write about this because I just realized that I made more blogs in 2006 than in 2007. wala akong ibang maisulat e. anyway...

The song below ain't the blues. But it's my Christmas Carol and Religious Song (think Handel's Messiah) rolled into one.

It's my Creed.

HIGHERBy: Creed

When dreaming, I'm guided to anotherworld time and time again at sunrise,I fight to stay asleep, cause I don�t wannaleave the comfort of this place causethere�s a hunger longin to escape fromthe life I live when I'm awake

Chorus:So lets go thereLets make our escapeC�mon lets go thereLets ask can we stayCan you take me higherTo a place where blind men seeCan you take me higherTo a place with golden streets

Although I would like our world to change,it helps me to appreciate those nights andthose dreams but my friend, I'd sacrificeall those nights if i could make the earthand my dreams the same the only differenceis to let love replace all our hate

Repeat Chorus:

Up high I feel like I'm alive for the very first timeSaid up high I'm strong enough to take these dreams and make them mineSaid up high I'm strong enough to take these dreams and make them mine

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Dear Kids, Snglguy's blog entry a few days ago about senile monks missing the "R" reminded me of something I read from "Our Daily Bread" a few years back.

"A wealthy woman who was traveling overseas saw a bracelet she thought was irresistible, so she sent her husband this cable: "Have found wonderful bracelet. Price $75,000. May I buy it?" Her husband promptly wired back this response: "No, price too high." But the cable operator omitted the comma, so the woman received this message: "No price too high." Elated, she purchased the bracelet. Needless to say, at her return her husband was dismayed. It was just a little thing--a comma--but what a difference it made! "

Dear Koryn and Isabel, you two don't know each other. I haven't met either one of you. But for me, the song of Creed is the perfect description of both your "websites"... that And the movie 300. That's why when I came across this YouTube video with scenes from the Movie 300 spiced up by the song Weathered, I just couldn't let it pass.

Your strength is inspiring Koryn. I have read some of your entries... The most important parts (especially the ones with your picture in Bora wearing those skimpy two-piece bikinis). and your entries about what happened a few years back. and how you bounced back. I now have a faint idea why the Tequila in your website is elegantly black.

Isabel, with a little alchemy of attitude, your goth-like spunk can turn into golden courage.

"The day reminds me of youThe night hides your truthThe earth is a voiceSpeaking to youTake all this prideAnd leave it behind'Cause one day it endsOne day we dieBelieve what you willThat is your rightBut I choose to winI choose to fight

Thursday, December 06, 2007

"So, I'm here again, Old Man.even after a long absence I have not forgotten.Ready or not, I'm coming, Old friend.So do your worst...you bloody bastard." --Prayer to Poseidon

DearKids, the first movie Sadie watched was "Surf's Up" (on the eve of your Mom's Birthday this year) while Sabine was "Shaggy the Dog". Sage's first movie was "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone." Except for Ate Sage, you all enjoyed your first movies. But Ate Sage was practically traumatized. She was barely a year old when she saw on a fifty foot silver screen an image of fluffy, a three headed dog, descendant of Cerberus. She didn't get to choose her first movie. I chose it for her. I was trying to make a point.

DUMB of me.

HP was a controversial movie because some religious people say it's about seducing kids to join the dark side. I say, if your religious belief makes you scared of HP and Rock Music, then your faith is not founded on the Rock of ages, Christ. Regardless of that simple truth, there are artworks that should not be seen by kids even with adult supervision. You and Harry Potter taught me that.

That's why, I don't think I'm going to let you watch the Golden Compass. Not yet. But don't get me wrong. The author is an atheist but I believe the theme is not about killing God (which is dumb) but defying FALSE gods. That theme is as old as the scriptures. The books of Daniel, Jeremiah and all the prophets of old exhort us to kill Baal, Nimrod, Idols of Babylon, etc. And as I have said before two blogs down, when I mention gods in this blog, I'm referring to false gods, those humans we tend to idolize, those who present themselves as special messiahs but are just garden variety wolves in sheep's clothing. That's why I'm no fan of totalitarian bastards (tanong mo kay Atticus)... And ofcourse I'm also referring to those petty gods romanticized in greek myths like in the Poseidon Prayer above.

So someday maybe you will decide to see it with your barkada. But just like HP, remember, it's just a movie.

Now just in case you are wondering what is the most anti-catholic book I've read, well it isn't HP or The constipated Davinci Code. It's the THORN BIRDS. But the saving grace of that book is that it is just like me-- An ANTI-ABORTION FEMINIST.

Thou waitest late and com'st alone, When woods are bare and birds are flown, And frosts and shortening days portend The aged year is near his end.

Then doth thy sweet and quiet eye Look through its fringes to the sky, Blue—blue—as if that sky let fall A flower from its cerulean wall.

I would that thus, when I shall see The hour of death draw near to me, Hope, blossoming within my heart, May look to heaven as I depart.

These lines remind me of Trillanes. I'd like to think that he chose life over certain death bec. at the last minute, he probably saw HOPE. Just like the F. Gentian that blossoms in autumn; when spring is just a thing of memory and the cold winter still lies ahead. It blossoms when all the other flowers (like violets and columbines) have fallen to the ground and the birds migrate to warmer climes. Just like HOPE, the Fringed Gentian is something to look forward to at the end of the year... or one's life.

IN the Senator's case, he knows that if he surrenders, the cold, wintry jail cell awaits him; all his other friends will abandon him like flowers fallen to the ground and his political friends will migrate to the side of the winning party (the Government). But still, when there's HOPE in your heart there' s so much to live for: A new LOVE, a brighter future, or maybe, even just a glimpse of the fabled Fringed Gentian.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Dear Kids, unlike me, you LOVE taking care of pets. If you guys had your way, the house would be full of Dogs. But I'm not a pet lover (if it's any consolation, I wanted to be a Ladies' Man. But looking like an oaf is a great disadvantage.)

Anyway, your KJ Dad permits you to take care of an old aquarium recently resurrected when your Mom bought a Parrot and Tiger fish. Few days later your Ninang bought an Angel fish. so far, the puny tiger is making the angel swim a few laps more than necessary-- FOR Survival.

Well, let it not be said that I do not know how to keep a pet of my own. Meet Cousteau (the one swimming below)

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Dear Sadie, everytime I ask your Ate Sage and Ate Sabine who the cutest baby in the whole world is, they both answer "SADIE", then point to you.

Cuppycake Song for Sadie:

You're my Honeybunch, SugarplumPumpy-umpy-umpkin, You're my Sweetie PieYou're my Cuppycake, GumdropSnoogums-Boogums, You're the Apple of my EyeAnd I love you so and I want you to knowThat I'll always be right hereAnd I love to sing sweet songs to youBecause you are so dear

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

"Briseis: All the gods are to be feared and respected. Achilles: I'll tell you a secret... ...something they don't teach you in your temple. The gods envy us. They envy us because we're mortal. Because any moment might be our last. Everything's more beautiful because we're doomed. You will never be lovelier than you are now." -- TROY (the movie)

Dear Sabine, You do Love Rock Music too. The other night I was listening to Nickelback's new single "I wanna be a rockstar". I muffle my voice when I sing the explicit parts of the song because you can easily mimic what you hear in our PC. I don't want you to hear those words--Else your Mom will kick my butt.

I really don't know when but someday you will realize that I do not endorse the lifestyle of Rockstars as articulated in that song. Whenever I refer to gods in this blog, I refer to mortals who think themselves as gods. they are not to be feared. sometimes they have to be defied like what the Greeks and Trojans did in the Iliad. the "gods" I think of whenever I use that word include Rockstars...

those gods live a kind of life different from ours.

"I want a brand new houseOn an episode of CribsAnd a bathroom I can play baseball inAnd a king size tub big enoughFor ten plus meA credit card that's got no limitAnd a big black jet with a bedroom in itGonna join the mile high clubAt thirty-seven thousand feet"But with all their luxury and wealth, I do believe that they have lost so much in their faustian bargain for fame. Like the gods mentioned by Achilles, THEY ENVY US.

They don't know what an honest day's work is.They don't know what real friends areThey don't know what it is to have kids like youThey don't know what real high voltage sex is... except with those who accept visa and mastercard.

When you grow up and when you start envying their lifestyle-- DON'T. Look at Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Gary Coleman, OJ Simpson (ok, the last two don't qualify as rockstars but they were gods too before their fall)

... Haba nito. all these just to justify my love for the song "I wanna be a rockstar". Well, the melody is addictive and the lyrics is simply audaciously honest and naive. In short: It's Fun!

So Sabine, You really wanna be a rockstar someday?

If you still do, just remember that you do not have to lose your perspective and your soul. Godspeed and Rock On!

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Saturday, November 10, 2007

"The Bible tells men how to go to Heaven, not how the Heaven goes." --attributed to Galileo.

Dear Sabine, while looking at this picture, I was reminded of a little story I heard in school...

There’s an old story of St. Augustine walking along the beach contemplating the Trinity. Up ahead he saw a little boy digging a hole in the sand. The boy then ran out into the waves, scooped up a bucket of water, and ran back to pour it into the hole. He did this a few times until finally Augustine approached him and asked, “Boy, what are you doing?”

“See that ocean out there?” the boy asked. “I’m going to pour that ocean into this hole.”

“That’s impossible,” said Augustine. “You cannot fit the ocean in that tiny hole.”

The boy looked up at him and replied, “And neither can you, Augustine, fit the Trinity in that tiny little brain.” The story goes on to say that the boy then disappeared, as apparently he was an angel.

Religion/Faith is a mystery that does not have to be solved by the human mind. It provides the answer to the most important question of all: How do we get to heaven when we die? The answer is simple: Jesus.

Now, please understand that other questions are trivial compared to that. Questions like "How do the heavens go about in space?", "How old is the Universe?", "How did Man evolve?", etc. These questions could only be answered by the tools of human intellect: Science, Mathematics, etc. Since they are frivolous compared to the most important question of all, please don't bother asking priests or pastors about them. Instead, ask your math and science teachers. as in, Kulitin nyo sila.

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Dear Sabine, We were on a tight budget because we had to go to the province during the long, all saint's day weekend. So we celebrated your birthday with only very few guests: us. But you enjoyed it very much. You wore your Cinderella costume and shared your Cinderella cake with us. Hey, the thumbs up sign on the right side of the picture? I noticed it just now and you told me it's your Ate Sage's hand.

The picture was taken on October 28, a sunday, when all of us were present.

On the 30th, your real birthday, we ordered a giant pizza, relatively speaking, from Shakey's.

Then on the 31st we went to your Mom's province in Tagkawayan, Quezon.

There we stayed at the house of your Lolo Teody and Lola Helen (your Ninang Deeai's parents)

They let you play with the toys

You pitched in sometimes in cleaning the house while I just slept.

We went to the beach, a mere 5 minute drive away from the house.

I think this was just Sadie's second time to swim there.

Even on Vacation, your Lola Letty was still teaching you how to write the alphabet

Spectacular View

Made more breath taking by your presence

The egalitarian beach got its name from the Rock formation on the right.

Before leaving Tagkawayan we crashed into your Lola Chole's place (Lola Letty's best friend)

Picture of Sadie and Ate Ning. Lola Chole even let Sadie keep the stuffed toy Chihuahua when her Ninang Deeai cheekily asked for it. You christened the stuffed toy "Wa-Wah"

Thank You Lola Chole for everything including the dinner and for Wa-Wah!

On the way back to Manila, we stopped at Atimonan to have a Photo-op with the Mermaid. I think you guys started talking about being excited in putting up Christmas decorations at homee not long after this stop over.

You were so surprised when we arrived, because the decorations were already in place. Thanks to your Ate Malou who was left at the house during the long weekend.

By the way, Sabine, during the ride home, you kept on playing the "cuppy cake" song in your Mommy's cellphone:

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

[Phantom:] On a hot summer night,would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses?[Ayheen:] Will he offer me his mouth?[P:] Yes.[A:] Will he offer me his teeth?[P:] Yes.[A:] Will he offer me his jaws?[P:] Yes.[A:] Will he offer me his hunger?[P:] Yes.[A:] Again, will he offer me his hunger?[P:] Yes![A:] And does he love me?[P:] Yes.[A:] Yes.[P:] On a hot summer night,would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses?[A:] Yes.[Phantom:] I bet you say that to all the boys!

(Adapted from Hot Summer Night by Meatloaf)Dear Sabine, Last year I wasn't able to wear any Phantom of the Opera masks because you were scared of them. Now?Well, just look at the picture.Way to go!!!

Fear ONLY the Lord God who created the Universe and its laws.

By the way, that Meatloaf song above, it's just a tongue-in-cheek quote, true to the spirit of this brief season. It is not supposed to be taken seriously. Capisce?BTW Guys! Enjoy your families, enjoy the All saint's day weekend.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Dear Kids, The battle of Agincourt between the French and the out-numbered English was fought on St. Crispian's day, 25th of October. It was a triumph of the few against the many. It also helped end the dominance in the battlefield of the armored cavalry--The Knights. Because despite of the abundance of French Knights trained in Mortal Combat, at Agincourt they were felled not by other well-trained knights who observed life long codes of honor but by arrows from the simple, not-so-aristocratic english long bow archers.

Thus the age of chivalry gasped its last few breaths at Agincourt. From then on, the field of war belongs not to the most honorably trained warriors willing to wallow in the blood of their defeated foe after a sword-to-sword/dagger-to-dagger/hand-to-hand combat where they see their enemies eye-to-eye; but to the most pragmatically trained ones who kill their enemies from a distance, hence they need not know what HONOR means. Excalibur was betamaxed out of the battlefield by arrows, and then by cannons, and now, by smart bombs from stealth bombers.On St. Crispian's day2007, a convicted plunderer was given pardon by the highest official of the land. It practically means that the crime never happened. Chivalry ended on the battlefield and was replaced by gunpowder long ago on St. Crispian's day. And now, SCD 2007, some would say that it is a day of infamy, others of miraculous justice. But no Filipino will be lukewarm when this day comes from now on.

In the previous post, I praised your school for taking a stand even though it was unpopular. The stand proved to be futile, and the cause truly a lost one.

But so was Thermophyle.So was the revolt of Spartacus.So was the stand on Massada.

So was this man's cause:

He was born in an obscure village The child of a peasant woman He grew up in another obscure village Where he worked in a carpenter shop Until he was thirty

He never wrote a book He never held an office He never went to college He never visited a big city He never travelled more than two hundred miles From the place where he was born He did none of the things Usually associated with greatness He had no credentials but himself

He was only thirty three

His friends ran away One of them denied him He was turned over to his enemies And went through the mockery of a trial He was nailed to a cross between two thieves While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing The only property he had on earth

When he was dead He was laid in a borrowed grave Through the pity of a friend

Nineteen centuries have come and gone And today HE is the central figure of the human race And the leader of mankind's progress

All the armies that have ever marched All the navies that have ever sailed All the parliaments that have ever sat All the kings that ever reigned put together Have not affected the life of mankind on earth As powerfully as that one solitary life

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Sage goes to the school that issued the statement below. She's doing well there but most of the credit belongs to her Lola who is a retired school teacher herself (and her Mom, and her Ninang etc.) I should really pay her (them) instead of paying the school's tuition fee. But sometimes, this school reminds me why Sage studies there-- It has a lot of guts. Even though it doesn't have a UAAP team, though it ain't got no game, You Got Balls Baby!

UPHOLD THE TRUE MEANING OF JUSTICE: NO TO PARDON!(A Statement drafted by the Miriam College Advocacy Centers)

As an academic institution that upholds the values of truth, justice, peace and integrity of all creation, the MiriamCollege community is against the proposed pardon for former president Joseph Estrada. Betrayal of public trust is a serious crime and anyone found guilty must face its legal consequences.

We all wish for genuine peace and reconciliation but not at the expense of justice and certainly not to accommodate the political interests of a few. Reconciliation entails acknowledgment of responsibility and guilt; remorse for the sin committed; willingness to apologize for the harm done; and genuine effort to compensate for the damage caused. All these are glaringly absent.

Granting Estrada pardon at a time when he, his family, and close friends continue to profess his innocence makes a complete mockery of the judicial system that tried him and will totally denigrate the heroic efforts of people who risked their lives for the truth.

Pardoning Estrada, as it is now proposed, will also mean that he no longer be required to restore the amount stolen. This is clearly unacceptable in the light of the principle of restorative justice and the country’s economic situation. Erap stole from the poor he swore to serve and the money should be returned to them.

Pardon will set a dangerous precedent. It will send a message to government officials that serious crimes such as plunder can easily be pardoned. What will this teach our children?

We appeal to our government officials and to the Filipino people to take a high moral ground here. Let us, as Christians, forgive when he asks for it. But former President Estrada has to do reparation for the wrong he has done, including serving his full sentence of reclusion perpetua. Schools teach the values of responsible and upright citizenship but many of the country’s leaders violate them with impunity. For the sake of our country’s future, NO TO PARDON!

Anyway, "Dead Man's Chest" here preserves what a Living Man's Chest contains: The Human Heart. In the movie, it contains the heart of the Captain of the Flying Dutchman.

I like the part in the movie when Keira Knightley, as the democratically elected pirate KING,rallied the sagging spirits of her crew. They were facing great odds against an overwhelming armada that represented tyranny (they hanged women and children at the beginning of the movie for exercising free speech, peaceful assembly and... for singing R&B) With a stirring speech reminiscent of Henry V's St. Crispian's Speech, she succeeded in forging together the waivering resolve of searats and other scums.

Darn. It gave me a vision. One day, when you guys are about to mount a hostile takeover of Microsoft, and your pencil pushing troops are weary, take a leaf from Henry V."...Then shall our names, Familiar in his mouth as household words-ADELEINE SAGE, SABINE AYN, and SADIE ANN-Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.This story shall the good man teach his son;And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,From this day to the ending of the world,But we in it shall be remembered-We few, we Happy FEW. WE BAND OF BROTHERS! For he (or she) that sheds his blood with me today shall be my brother (and sistah)be he ne'er so vile,This day shall gentle his condition; And gentlemen in England now-a-bed Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day"

Men are ruled, dear kids, with WORDS and magic.

BTW, St. Crispian's Day is on the 25th of October. Let's not celebrate it. Talo ng England ang France, doon. Ka Asar.

I also just realized that the whole epic is just about the re-telling of the legend of the Flying Dutchman. It is just like Disney's sanitized version of the Grimm's Brother's tales about cinderella, snow white and sleeping beauty.

If you will google the real legend of the flying dutchman, it is not as sympathetic as the story of William and Elizabeth. But because of the 3 movies, your heart goes out to the two who only have 1 day, every 10 years to be together. 1 day, in 10 years... for all eternity.

If that's something I have to live with, I'll take it. It may not be forever, but it's for now.

"Two hearts beat as one togetherIt may not be forever, but it's for NOW..."-- John Parr's American Anthem OST

Saturday, October 20, 2007

I got my name in lights with notcelebrity.co.ukDear Sage, Yesterday you casually told us that you received a certificate from your Science Teacher. You didn't say that you were the only one who received it in your class. We only learned its real significance when some Moms of your classmates sent text messages to your Lola Letty congratulating her because you got the highest grades in Science.

Your hard work paid off. Both yours and your Lola's. We should really thank Lola Letty for this. Day in day out she concentrates on helping you accomplish your goal of being an academic achiever.

Special mention to your Mom. She takes time to teach you too. We should also thank her especially, for her genes.Ninang Deeai, who also acts as your tutor... when she doesn't have a date.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Dear Kids, This weekend we went to hypermarket. While your Mom and Lola were buying groceries, you guys were left in the kiddie corner where you watched Baby's Day Out (an old 90's film). I was thrilled to find out that once upon a time, sex and the city's Cynthia Nixon was hot (she had long, blonde hair in that film. and a British Nanny's accent) I was equally surprised to see Fred Thompson, the late-comer Republican wannabee contender for 2008. He was an old hag even then and acts like there was a stick up his behind. Kinda like his performance in his first debate.

Anyway, while in the Kiddie corner, Sage made friends with the girl wearing prescription glasses and Sabine played with Anna and Ainah. While Sadie banters with other toddlers and yaya's. I'm on the look out for the occasional sexy wannabee mothers or newlywed brides who drool over you guys for being so beautiful. They wouldn't give me the time of day when I was still single but because of you guys, they actually seek out your progenitor (Me) and go out of their way to tell me how beautiful you guys are. Ofcourse I've been practicing my pick up line on them. But it has yet to work though. Your mom is betting a year's supply of FHM magz that my pick up lines will never work on any cutie.

She has yet to lose our bet. A real smartass, your Mom is.

The other pictures were take last weekend. We celebrated the Birthday of Kuya Dominic and Kitkat by going to the Fun Ranch, eating Pizza and splurging on TIMEZONE cards.

ZipLine

The Kids

Welcome!!!

Why do I keep a blog?

I'm a Husband to a TK lass, Physician (Internist) Medical Specialist and last but not the least, a Father to three wonderful daughters and a great son. They say that the next best thing we can give to our children aside from GOOD HABITS are GOOD MEMORIES. May the Lord Help me fill this Blog (www.thekid.tk) and their lives with Both.
Recently I also started updating www.TagKawayan.TK... ever since My kids started referring to TK as their "HOMETOWN"